Because He Lives
One of my favorite parts of Easter is singing hymns and worship songs corporately with my local church body. There’s something special about raising our voices together in praise, singing about Christ’s work on the cross and the Gospel, on the very day that we set aside to celebrate the Gospel! While I love several more modern worship songs for their depth and focus on Christ, I also appreciate the truths of older hymns. One hymn that I grew up singing in church was Because He Lives (written by Bill and Gloria Gaither).
The chorus goes,
Because He lives,
I can face tomorrow!
Because He lives,
All fear is gone!
Because I know
He holds the future,
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives!
These beautiful words remind us that the Christian life is centered around the fact that Jesus is alive. 1 Corinthians 15:14 says, “…if Christ has not been raised…your faith also is vain.” Verse 17 and 19 add, “…if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins…If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” If the resurrection did not happen, the Bible itself says that our faith would be worthless. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, Christians should be pitied for believing something so foolish. (By the way, Click here to read why the resurrection was an actual historical event!)
Belief in the resurrection is also an important part of the salvation process: earlier in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul wrote, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Have you placed your trust in Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, taking the punishment for your sin, and His resurrection to life three days later? This is, indeed, of “first importance”.
The resurrection brings hope. We serve a living Savior, not a dead teacher. The resurrection brings hope to each of life’s circumstances and trials that we face. Those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus’ work on the cross now seek eternal things and look to Christ, not the things of this world (Col. 3:1-4). Because Jesus lives, we can live—both an abundant life on earth, and in eternal life with Christ.
If you’re familiar with the hymn Because He Lives, you’ll recall the words of verse two:
How sweet to hold
A newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he brings.
But greater still the calm assurance;
This child can face uncertain days because He lives!
Likewise, verse three continues,
And then one day, I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!
In every stage of life—from a newborn child to the moment we face death—we have a changed perspective because Jesus lives. Here are just a few ways our life is radically different:
We have a living hope through the resurrection (1 Peter 1:3).
We know our present afflictions are temporary in light of eternity with Christ (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
Most of all, we have peace with God, found only through Jesus Christ’s work on the cross (Romans 5:1).
Knowing the depth and power of the resurrection, how can we not smile with hopeful hearts when we sing the glorious hymns of Easter? Because He lives—I truly can face tomorrow. Because He lives—I don’t need to live in fear. And life is worth the living, just because He lives!
What is your favorite Easter hymn?
“The word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
All Scripture quotations are NASB. Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
